het Cultuurfonds MBO scholarship

het Cultuurfonds MBO scholarship

You get up to 25,000 EUR to complete a full study programme abroad in art and culture. The exact amount is set for your case, based on your tuition, rent, living costs and how long you stay away. The scholarship never covers everything, so you add your own contribution too, for example from family, the Dutch student loan (DUO), your school or other funds. The money comes from het Cultuurfonds, a Dutch foundation that supports culture. It works with a fixed set of vocational (mbo) schools to reach students.

Who can apply

• Your school and level: You have finished, or are about to finish, an mbo programme (levels 1 to 4, the Dutch vocational track) in art and culture at one of the foundation's partner schools, such as SintLucas, Cibap, the Herman Brood Academie or the Hout- en Meubileringscollege. Studied art or culture at another school? You can email to ask.
• Where you go: You start a full programme abroad, outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in the 2027-2028 school year, and you live in that country while you study.
• Type of study: The programme is accredited, full-time and lasts at least one school year. It sits at a level comparable to mbo, hbo or wo (Dutch vocational or university education), follows naturally from your Dutch training and stays within art and culture.
• Age: You are at least 18 when your programme abroad begins.
• Residence: If you were not born in the Netherlands, you have been registered there for at least 5 years.
• Not funded: Part-time or online programmes, internships, exchanges and studies outside art and culture. Film, animation and interior-design courses get lower priority if there are too many applications.

How to apply

You apply online through the foundation's application portal between 1 February and 15 March 2027, for the 2027-2028 school year. You submit a CV, a motivation letter or short video, two recommendation letters, a budget and a portfolio. You hear the result by early May.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is cut narrowly. You must come from one of the named art-and-culture schools and be starting a full programme abroad, so the eligible group is small. If you clearly fit those conditions and can show a strong portfolio and a study that follows naturally from your Dutch training, your prospects are good. Budgets differ per field, and film, animation and interior-design applicants rank lower when demand exceeds the money available.